The Survival Analysis Team’s (SAT) mission is to maximize the level of protection afforded to Army aircrew members by analyzing aviation life support equipment, studying injury mechanisms, tracking patterns, and highlighting issues that may decrease those protection levels. Additionally, SAT collects and analyzes available individual protective and safety equipment involved in Army ground events, within the context of operational accidents and sustained injuries. SAT evaluates the effectiveness of current military systems to provide actionable recommendations to mitigate injury and any additional losses of life or equipment.

SAT collects and analyzes data through a multiservice partnership that examines deployed accidents and combat events, develops a joint database for the sharing of information, and reviews data for trends, risk factors, estimates of human tolerance, and injury thresholds.

SAT is composed of two programs:

The Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat program, through the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, has a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Directorate of Training and Doctrine’s Aviation Survivability Development and Tactics team at Fort Rucker, Ala., to analyze life support equipment from enemy action shootdown events, and retrospectively analyze data sets to provide specific epidemiological data to the customer.

The Aviation Life Support Equipment Retrieval Program (ALSERP) governed by DA PAM 385-40, collects and analyzes available individual protective and safety equipment that has been involved in accidents and operational events, especially in the context of injuries received by the user. These assessments allow the verification of military standards and performance requirements and have resulted in important improvements to safety equipment and procedures for more than 35 years. ALSERP also identifies issues with fielded equipment. ALSERP continues its successful Problem Fit (PROFIT) program for aviators who have ill-fitting helmets, including the E model Apache helmet.

3-dimensional scanner that modernizes and improves the assessment of damaged helmets, adding beneficial data to better define helmet damage in relation to its influence on head injury and equipment performance

Inversion Wheel Test Device

ECSU Downloader

ALSERP Educational Center

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What flight boots are approved for aviation use?

A: Please visit this section of our website for information on how to obtain the latest approved flight boots memorandum..

Q: Is the Oregon Aero Hush Kit approved for flight?

A: No, PM AW has disseminated a message throughout the ALSE community to reinforce that modifications to the helmet in an effort to install the Oregon Aero Softseal/Hush Kit are not authorized or approved modifications.

Q: Is the ADS (Pyrad) Flight Jacket approved for flight?

A: No, it is not approved for flight.

Q: Is the Cobra Mic approved for aviation use?

A: The cobra mic is ONLY approved for use in the Chinook (47) platform.

Q: Proper wear location of the ASEK knife?

A: The ALSE regulations allows for the ASEK knife to be worn on the inside or outside of the calf on either leg. However, please see local SOP because some locations have been approved to wear the ASEK on the Air Warrior PSGC vest.

Q: Is the Body Armor Overlay System (BAOS) approved for flight?

A: Yes, The BOAS is ONLY approved when the extraction harness is worn underneath it. Without the extraction harness the system is unapproved.

Q: Is the Army Combat Shirt (ACS) approved for flight?

A: Yes, The ACS is approved as long as the body armor and Air Warrior PSGC vest is worn over the shirt.

Historical Successes:

Developed and fielded a new turret gunner restraint system (GRS) with TARDEC

Improved aircrew helmets and performance standards, reducing head injury in Army aviation accidents

Developed new PMCS criteria in order to better identify unserviceable GRS unitizing DA Form 2028 process

Improved fire protection and use of Nomex® flight suits and gloves

Developed crushable ear cups to prevent basilar skull fractures

Demonstrated the need for replacement of metal grab handles with cloth on MRAP

This Web site provides an introduction to the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) and contains official Government information. Its use is intended for members of the general public, news media and Army Medical Department beneficiaries. Please address questions or concerns about this website to the USAARL Public Affairs Office via email or by telephone at 334-255-6883